Geralt is going to be lucky to make it down from Kaer Morhen in peace. He has Jaskier, the walking disaster bard, a very willful girl child AND a new Roach.
Jaskier has to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck four times to stop him from walking right off a cliff. He gets lost for half an hour because he saw a butterfly that was SO BLUE and he just had to follow it to get a better look. He only finds his way back to Geralt after he falls into a stream. He attempts to play it off as “needing a wash”. No one buys it. Not even New Roach.
Ciri was easier to contain with the previous Roach by his side. He could trust the mare to take action to keep her safe, a fact proven by her throwing Ciri during the attack that claimed her life. New Roach seems to have the current self preservation of Jaskier. During a break to let Jaskier out on dry socks, he watched New Roach square up against a bear. In the spring. When bears are at their hungriest, needing to fatten back up after a long winter. Thankfully, the bear was no match for a Witcher. (Also, a male bear. Jaskier made him check after becoming hysterical about orphaned cubs). New Roach gives 0 fucks about the rider. Low hanging branch? Seems like a *you* problem. Ciri elects to walk after almost getting clotheslined for the second time.
Ciri, is a tweenage girl. She is filled with angst, anger and sunshine. Geralt is never sure if he’s going to get happy Ciri, or grumpy Ciri. Then again, she is still severely traumatized after everything that happened to her recently, so you can’t really blame her. It’s the moments when she is at her happiest he secretly fears the most. Don’t get him wrong, he loves to see his daughter happy! It’s just a very happy Ciri, is Jaskier Jr.
Jaskier braids flowers into Ciri’s hair that morning? She’s beaming the entire morning. Come noontime when they stop for lunch, she takes her wooden sword and goes off exploring. She finds a beehive. Unsure if it’s active or not, she starts poking it with her sword. The only warning Geralt got was “Geralt, am I allergic to bees?” Before all hell broke loose. The hive fell thanks to an exceptionally enthusiastic poke, splitting open at he girl’s feet, erupting in angry flying insects. Jaskier has enough sense to run, hiding behind Roach. Roach is doing this head tossing shuffle dance to ward off the stinging devils. Ciri is squealing and swatting as she tries to escape, and all Geralt can think is “we are never making it off this mountain.”
